§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of Public Building and Works on how many occasions during 1966 a contractor, who had been invited to tender for a Government contract, subsequently withdrew his tender because of the conditions which had been required by his Department which were unacceptable to the contractor; and what was the figure for 1967 to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Mellish:It is the constant endeavour of my Department to set out clearly all the proposed conditions of contract in the tender documents. Tenderers should, therefore, be fully aware of what is required of them before their tenders are submitted.
No records are kept centrally showing details of the number of tenders withdrawn after submission, but they are very few in relation to the number of tenders invited. In England and Wales a tenderer can withdraw an offer at any time before acceptance.
If the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind, perhaps he will let me know.